Development talk point | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/development-talk-point
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 03 Mar 2015 23:19:08 GMT2015-03-03T23:19:08Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Poll: is it time for a woman to lead the UN?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poll/2014/nov/10/poll-time-for-woman-to-lead-united-nations
With a campaign to bring transparency to the way the UN chooses its leaders, we ask if a woman should be in the top job <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poll/2014/nov/10/poll-time-for-woman-to-lead-united-nations">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentUnited NationsWorld newsWomenMon, 10 Nov 2014 13:34:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poll/2014/nov/10/poll-time-for-woman-to-lead-united-nationsAFP, UN Photo(From left to right) Kristalina Georgieva, Helen Clark and Amina Mohammed. Photograph: AFP, UN PhotoAFP, UN Photo(From left to right) Kristalina Georgieva, Helen Clark and Amina Mohammed Photograph: AFP, UN PhotoCarla Kweifio-Okai2014-11-10T13:34:00ZWhat lessons can be drawn from the Ebola outbreak?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/oct/31/ebola-outbreak-what-can-we-learn
<p>Experts are urging the world to heed the wider implications of the Ebola outbreak. Could it change our approach to global health?</p><p>• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/audio/2014/oct/31/ebola-crisis-global-health-podcast">What does the Ebola crisis reveal about the state of global health? – podcast</a> </p><p>The struggle to contain the Ebola outbreak has pushed global health into the spotlight. While much has been said about the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/17/world-health-organisation-botched-ebola-outbreak" title="">world’s slow response to the crisis</a>, focus has also shifted to the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/aug/13/ebola-epidemic-poor-facilities-distrust-healthcare" title="">broken health systems</a> that contributed to the epidemic.</p><p>Our <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/audio/2014/oct/31/ebola-crisis-global-health-podcast" title="">latest Global development podcast</a> explores the lessons the Ebola outbreak can teach us about global health inequality, looking at the weaknesses in the current response, the shortfall in global health spending, and the actions required to prevent further outbreaks. The Guardian’s health editor, Sarah Boseley, spoke to <a href="http://www.who.int/dg/adg/kieny/en/" title="">Dr Marie-Paule Kieny</a> of the World Health Organisation, along with <a href="http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/alumni/survey/professor_david_heymann.html" title="">Professor David Heymann</a> from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Oxfam’s <a href="http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/our-people/advocacy/mohga-kamal-yanni" title="">Mohga Kamal-Yanni</a>.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/oct/31/ebola-outbreak-what-can-we-learn">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentEbolaHealthFri, 31 Oct 2014 14:36:34 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/oct/31/ebola-outbreak-what-can-we-learnPhotograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPAPeople under quarantine in Jene Wondi, Liberia. The World Health Organisation says Liberia has been hit the hardest by Ebola. Photograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPAPhotograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPAPeople under quarantine in Jene Wondi, Liberia. The World Health Organisation says Liberia has been hit the hardest by Ebola. Photograph: Ahmed Jallanzo/EPACarla Kweifio-Okai2014-10-31T14:36:34ZWhich development studies books should students read? | Talk pointhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/27/development-studies-books-students-read-review
Beyond the usual titles on most reading lists, here are 10 of your recommendations to ease you into the subject<p>If you’re new to development studies, reading lists can seem a little daunting. There are classic works to digest, by authors such as Michel Foucault and Edward Said, and contemporary titles by <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/nov/05/arturo-escobar-post-development-thinker" title="">Arturo Escobar</a>, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/nov/22/amartya-sen-human-development-doyen" title="">Amartya Sen</a>, Joseph Stiglitz and others.</p><p>In addition to the books you’ll find on most university reading lists, there are other titles waiting to be discovered. From your recommendations via Twitter, we’ve compiled a list of 10 books to read, many of which were released in the past year.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/27/development-studies-books-students-read-review">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentBooksCultureStudentsWed, 27 Aug 2014 13:42:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/27/development-studies-books-students-read-reviewPhotograph: Graham Turner/The Guardian +442072399503We’d like to hear more suggestions. What other development books would you recommend? Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianPhotograph: Graham Turner/The Guardian +442072399503We’d like to hear more suggestions. What other development books would you recommend? Photograph: Graham Turner for the GuardianCarla Kweifio-Okai2014-08-27T13:42:03ZWhat are the biggest issues facing young people? | Talk pointhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/12/issues-young-people-international-youth-day
On International Youth Day, let us know what you think should be top of the agenda: jobs? contraception? education? hunger? ending conflict?<p>To mark International Youth Day on Tuesday, we asked young people on Twitter which issues they would like to see given more attention.</p><p>The most common response was jobs, which reflects an increasing global youth unemployment rate of 13.1%, up from 12.9% in 2012. The largest increase occurred in the Middle East, which has the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, according to an International Labour Organisation <a href="http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/---publ/documents/publication/wcms_233953.pdf" title="">report</a>.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/youth?src=hash">#youth</a> international youth day,unemployment,poverty &amp; hunger.Nigeria youth are most vulnerable despite petro dollars</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> Youths lack a platform to prove their worth in public. Lack of civic education and responsibility.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/girleffect">@girleffect</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uganda?src=hash">#Uganda</a>, unemployment; caused mainly by bad governance - poor education system.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> Most are not well prepared for the job market. Skills have not been imparted in them during schooling,.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/12/issues-young-people-international-youth-day">Continue reading...</a>EmploymentGlobal developmentYoung peopleSocietyEducationTue, 12 Aug 2014 13:25:26 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/12/issues-young-people-international-youth-dayPhotograph: Ton Koene/AlamyYoung Burundi men play a game. What are the major issues facing young people around the world? Photograph: Ton Koene/AlamyPhotograph: Ton Koene/AlamyYoung Burundi men play a game. What are the major issues facing young people around the world? Photograph: Ton Koene/AlamyCarla Kweifio-Okai2014-08-12T13:25:26ZWill these sustainable development goals do the job? | Talk pointhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/06/sustainable-development-goals-un
<p>A UN working group has devised a final draft of targets to succeed the millennium development goals. What do you think of the 17 proposals?</p><p>The UN working group responsible for crafting the sustainable development goals (SDGs) has handed down its final proposal, adding a goal to address domestic and global inequality.</p><p>The recommendations include 17 goals and 169 targets to be achieved by 2030. The list includes a reworking of the eight millennium development goals that expire next year, such as eradicating poverty and hunger, improving education, and achieving gender equality, as well as new goals on water and sanitation, affordable energy, safer cities and climate change. The recommendations will be shared with the UN general assembly (UNGA) next month for members to debate the goals, which will be universal. The UNGA is expected to adopt the new set of goals in September 2015.<br /></p><p>Proposed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDGs?src=hash">#SDGs</a> leave out critical component of improving rural livelihoods - securing community land rights <a href="http://t.co/UQVoNLr7IN">http://t.co/UQVoNLr7IN</a></p><p>We're pleased to see disability so prominent in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/post2015?src=hash">#post2015</a> development priorities: <a href="http://t.co/Qae7cBY7jq">http://t.co/Qae7cBY7jq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDGs?src=hash">#SDGs</a></p><p>I'm torn: it's good that science is in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDGs?src=hash">#SDGs</a> but worried that it's just buried in the 170-odd targets. <a href="http://t.co/AHNBMG4ke5">http://t.co/AHNBMG4ke5</a></p><p>To end <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/poverty?src=hash">#poverty</a>, you have to end <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/corruption?src=hash">#corruption</a>. A <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/governance?src=hash">#governance</a> goal needs 2 be included in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDGs?src=hash">#SDGs</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/anticorruption">@anticorruption</a> <a href="http://t.co/LMFUtSikQw">http://t.co/LMFUtSikQw</a></p><p>Post-2015: so far 17 goals and 169 targets! How much resources are we willing to spend on measurement? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDGs?src=hash">#SDGs</a> <a href="http://t.co/Cu910xWKnE">http://t.co/Cu910xWKnE</a></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/06/sustainable-development-goals-un">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentThe future of developmentEnvironmental sustainabilitySustainable development goalsWed, 06 Aug 2014 10:26:05 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/aug/06/sustainable-development-goals-unPhotograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty ImagesA boy touches the mouth of a stingray in Indonesia. Conservation of marine resources is in the latest development goals. Photograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty ImagesA boy touches the mouth of a stingray in Indonesia. Conservation of marine resources is in the latest development goals. Photograph: Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty ImagesCarla Kweifio-Okai2014-08-06T10:26:05ZAre NGOs too concerned with risk aversion? Ask our expertshttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jul/07/are-ngos-too-concerned-with-risk-aversion-ask-our-experts
<p>Are humanitarian organisations more concerned with risk aversion than serious relief effort? Put your questions to our panel of experts on Tuesday 8 July between 1-2pm BST<a href="http://www.odi.org/programmes/humanitarian-policy-group"><br></a><br></p><p>The medical charity M&eacute;decins Sans Fronti&egrave;res (MSF) has <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jul/07/un-ngos-funding-humanitarian-relief-msf-medecins-sans-frontieres">warned that UN and international NGOs are failing to respond to humanitarian emergencies.</a> </p><p>The report criticised crisis management, saying many organisations were more concerned with risk aversion and securing funding than providing a serious relief effort.</p><p>Very interesting subject often discussed in many humanitarian fora. Everybody seems to agree that NGOs are overwhelmed by bureaucracy and under pressure of insurance companies, donors, security requirements and so on. Once we have said that what is the next step ? How can this discourse be transformed into action ? What practical, structural and strategic changes Save the Children or MSF are making to be more flexible and less risk adversed ? Is it an organisation issue or an individual issue ? Excessive professionalisation has led to a deep transformation of our sector and developped the charity business. How do these organisations nurture the humanitarian culture and engagement of their staff in order to have people working in the organisations who are humanitarians before being WASH or nutrition experts ?</p><p>One of the initiatives that big NGOS have taken to address some of these problems is the START Network (former CBHA). This brings together many leading international NGOs, trying to channel funding to local partners and organisations. </p><p>The new &pound;1.8m fund is managed by a network of NGOs, not the UN. This is presenting an alternative to the UN bureaucracy and an indication that these NGOs are taking these issues very seriously and trying to address them. One of their expressed interests is to avoid creating an unwieldy bureaucracy. </p><p>Save has reorganised so that it is able to delegate decision making to its country offices which are much more in touch with the actual needs of the people they support. They provide the needs assessment and work with donors to meet those needs. They work increasingly with local organsiations to build local capactiy, rather than replace it, and when the country office lacks capacity or is overwhelmed by a massive disaster, the regional or central humanitarian team steps up to offer assistance. The whole organisation is thus realigning to recognise its responsibility to respond across the full spectrum of need from emergency to development.</p><p>I think it is both individual and organisational, but the individual element should not be minimised. One of the interesting findings of our report was that when agencies - MSF or others - had bold, innovative and responsive individuals heading up their relief programmes on the ground - the kind of people who aren't sometimes afraid to argue against/ignore HQ, then aid was generally more relevant and effective.</p><p>Yes, this is true - documented extensively in the ALNAP Leadership study in 2011 http://www.alnap.org/resource/6118. See also the 2013 study 'Who's in charge here?' http://www.alnap.org/resource/8640</p><p>Does the blame for inadequate emergency relief efforts lie solely with the UN and international NGOs? Are there other actors in the global emergency response system that might be at fault?</p><p>I think it’s a collective responsibility. There’s a huge range of actors that are populating the humanitarian space and in conflict situations the belligerents also bear responsibility for refusing to grant access.</p><p>No, of course the first responsibility lies with governments. But some are less well prepared, some are not adequately funded, and some use aid as a conditional tool to support their political objectives. NGOS recognise this and try to work with governments to help them discharge their responsibility, support sectors that are weak, and to fill gaps where they are not able to cope.</p><p>Another question from an anonymous user:</p><p>When will NGOs (and to some extent UN agencies ) stop prioritising crisis that present good media opportunities and focus on those in the most need?</p><p>Slightly unfair - we get our funding from people and donors who want to help people in need. They want to know where their money has gone, and a successful response, with a positive narrative supports further fund raising. We spend a huge amount of our unrestricted funds raised in this way on crises that never hit the press - last year more than 120 small scale responses across the world, affecting many thousands of children displaced by conflict, food shortages and natural disasters.</p><p>I'd be interested to hear from the panel what level of risk they think is acceptable. Speaking on behalf of the UN World Food Programme, our team has to make risk assessments every day while delivering food assistance in places like Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudan. In every case there is a very real threat to life and property but we do everything we can to keep on reaching the hungry in some of the world's most remote and dangerous locations. My colleagues who work on the ground say the modus operandi today has moved from a philosophy of determining when to pull out, to one of deciding how to remain while minimising risk.</p><p>Now we feel like we have to be everywhere – that humanitarian agencies have to be present in every emergency. The question is, is it realistic to expect agencies to be able to operate in conflict-affected countries at scale in extremely violent and polarised environments. We need to manage expectations. Perhaps here we should to local and national responders (e.g. NGOs, civil society groups, networks). We should be supporting people who are there and choose to be there to provide assistance. </p><p>And on this point, the MSF report points to need to build technical capacity to respond – but it’s also important to build up capacity of the usual first responders: local people. It’s often people who are affected by crises themselves who are helping others.</p><p>MSF is not trying to detract from the role that local partners can play in response to humanitarian crisis. But the kind of contexts we are looking at - where there is a need for an urgent and rapid scale-up in response to a significant deterioration in the needs - are the ones where local partners can find themselves equally affected by the crisis and overwhelmed by the needs. MSF is calling for a bit of a back to basics approach - not to lose our ability to respond at scale and in the short-term.</p><p>Partnership is the key in every humanitarian response and that means partnership not just with civil society groups and local/national NGOs but also with national governments and the private sector if capacity is there.</p><p>I agree with that - though it's not one or the other, even in these contexts.</p><p>From Twitter @IanECox asks:</p><p>Are NGOs 2 concerned with risk aversion?</p><p>There are different aspects to risk aversion. In relation to security, it has to be acknowledged that many of the conflicts we work in today are dangerous for humanitarian workers. This cannot be underplayed. However we see in the field that many organisations have an over dependence on the UN department for safety and security, which in some contexts does not have a good enough security analysis and therefore limits the areas that NGOs can work in. This is the case in Central African Republic. Also in DRC we've seen organisations very much limiting themselves to the areas patrolled by MONUSCO.</p><p>Great that the Guardian is again hosting such an online debate!</p><p>This MSF-report raises some important points and paints a worrying, although sadly familiar, picture of the aid industry. I am happy to see that MSF has again<br />invested in a critical assessment of the workings of the industry that they are part of. Their previous 'Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed' (2011) was <br />another good example.</p><p>Yes, we feel that it is timely for a bit more of an open debate on some of the issues. We also recognise that we've been open enough with some of our internal evaluations on effectiveness in particular which is why we've linked into some of those findings on our website and we commit to more of this in the future http://www.msf.org.uk/msf-report-where-everyone-responding-emergencies-most-difficult-places</p><p>Marc du Bois, ex MSF UK Exec Director wrote for the ODI in 2010 about the way the 'protection' debate was being used as a 'figleaf' to cover up the inefficacy of much practical humanitarian work - the unglamorous but real health, water and sanitation issues that are now being mentioned in MSF's latest report. It doesn't seem that the message has been listened to - in fact agencies have fallen over themselves to recruit protection staff and put them into positions where they are completely incapable of providing protection and must sit and watch populations die of preventable diseases caused by lack of potable water. What will prevent this report just being ignored by agencies while they concentrate on more marketable issues?</p><p>That's exactly what this debate is about. To try and put more of a spotlight onto the issues that MSF is encountering in these very acute situations.</p><p>Another via Twitter:</p><p>Q to @GdnDevelopment: isn't risk aversion by donors in contexts such as #Somalia that fear diversion of funds by militant groups, spot on?</p><p>the diversion of aid money in any context should be of concern whether it be to armed groups or to governments, which is all the more reason from MSF's perspective that we should be limiting levels of bureacracy and promote direct implementation and therefore accountability</p><p>It is not risk aversion - it is a requirement that we comply with international law and the laws of the countries where we are registered. Diversion of aid to prohibited organisations is a very real risk but we have found that if we can demonstrate that we have adequately assessed and mitgated that risk, and reported the fact when we do lose aid, then donors and the authorities have taken a pragmatic view.</p><p>Mike, those are good points but I wonder if what is no doubt a costly and lengthy process just adds to the bureaucracy and delays. And are all agencies treated equally? </p><p>Muslim Charties Forum has documented how Muslim charities come under particular scrutiny. These issues need to be addressed</p><p>It took us a while to produce the policies that allowed us to program in these environments, and it was important to make all of our staff aware of their responsibilities, but once in place it works quite smoothly.</p><p>A further anonymous question for the panel:</p><p>Why are UN agencies (possible exception WHO) so obsessed with telling us what aid they have delivered, down the decimal point of food parcels, (and making cheesy videos about it) rather than telling us what the needs are on the ground and where they haven't been able to deliver?</p><p>I agree that there is a tendency to focus on what has been delivered, rather than looking at what the gaps are and what resources need to be mobilised to meet those gaps.</p><p>And from ‏@cynan_sez on twitter:</p><p>Why aren't you asking: are [government] donors too risk averse?</p><p>In some cases, donors are actually starting to become less risk averse. They’re funding things like the START Fund for example, they’re funding humanitarian innovations with an understanding that there will inevitably be failures. And many are funding humanitarian operations in contested areas (cross-line and cross-borders) despite the political implications. We have to accept that donors do have political objectives and relationships with other governments that will have a bearing on the level of risk that they are prepared to take. But these are some positive steps</p><p>It is not so much risk aversion, as a slow realisation that things have changed and the compliance mechanisms that were designed for rapid onset disasters, or in uncontested space, are no longer appropriate when there is a rapidly evolving insecure environment and people put their lives at risk trying to deliver aid. They can't always get list of beneficiaries or receipts or invoices for everyhting they spend. some donors are being much more pro-active than others in adapting to the new environment.</p><p>I think this is a very interesting report from MSF, and there is definitely too much risk aversion when it comes to humanitarian response. The delayed response to the 2011 drought and famine in Somalia is a sad, and well-documented, example of where fear and risk aversion led to deaths that could have been avoided. NGOs definitely have their role to play, but what about donors? Risk aversion by donors also makes it increasingly harder for NGOs, and the UN for that matter, especially in contexts such as Somalia where fears of diversion to terrorist groups exist. How do we balance such concerns with the need to respond?</p><p>The risk aversion that we refer to in the report is not only about security, but about the willingness to take on programmes that are difficult and might fail.<br />In Jordan, we met several INGOs who were quite clear that one reason why few agencies were supporting urban refugees were that they were very difficult to make succeed and that wouldn't look good to donors.</p><p>An anonymous question via email just in:</p><p>Could a commitment to capacity building be the answer so that local people are part of a faster response? However, can we successfully deliver capacity building programmes under such overwhelming beaucracy as outlined in the report?</p><p>This is a long-term approach. Capacity building cannot produce results today. In the meantime, we see again and again that there is an insufficient response to the needs of today rather than thinking about the needs of tomorrow.</p><p>The Humanitairan Leadership Academy initiaitive, led, but not owned by, Save, is a major attempt to stimulate local capacity building. It aims to train 100,000 humanitarian leaders over the next 5 years, at every level from the most basic technical skill to a Masters diploma.</p><p>We've had this question emailed in by an anonymous user:</p><p>Why did the wider humanitarian community refuse to acknowledge there was an issue in Iraq with ISIS and displacement until the pictures of the queues at checkpoints hit their television screens in June?<br />ISIS has been fighting in Anbar since January and in the first six months of the year 450,000+ people were displaced, but despite the magnitude of the situation only a handful of NGOs responded, funding was woeful, and the barely registered in the media.<br />[Despite best efforts of a few noble actors like STC, NCCI and DRC]<br />Suddenly, IDPs start arriving into Kurdistan, which has a good airport, nice hotels and is easily reachable for aid deliveries (as well as photographs and vox pops), and every NGO in the world sends a team over to Kurdistan to help with the &quot;Iraq crisis&quot; as if it's a new thing.</p><p>This would very much fit in with the analysis of the report that emergency aid tends to favour the easy to reach places. We saw the same thing in Jordan, with the assistance effort focusing on Zaatari camp.</p><p>Thanks to all for joining the debate, glad to see that there is some take-up on the issue. We don't have all the answers (which is why there are no recommendations in the report) but do want to have a frank discussion about what we feel is a loss of capacity and know-how in acute, conflict-related emergency response. If you want to continue the debate, we have an opinion section on our website - follow this link to see how you can contribute. http://www.msf.org.uk/opinion-and-debate</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jul/07/are-ngos-too-concerned-with-risk-aversion-ask-our-experts">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentHumanitarian responseAidMon, 07 Jul 2014 17:18:43 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jul/07/are-ngos-too-concerned-with-risk-aversion-ask-our-expertsPhotograph: CELLOU BINANI/AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of Médecins Sans Frontières prepare to treat patients with Ebola in an isolation ward in Conakry, Guinea. Photograph: AFP/GettyPhotograph: CELLOU BINANI/AFP/Getty ImagesMembers of Médecins Sans Frontières prepare to treat patients with Ebola in an isolation ward in Conakry, Guinea. Photograph: AFP/GettyClaudine Spera2014-07-07T17:18:43ZKhaled Hosseini – live Q&Ahttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/booksblog/2014/apr/01/khaled-hosseini-live-qa
<p>The author of The Kite Runner and UN refugee agency ambassador took part in our live Q&amp;A on Wednesday 2 April. Read his answers to your questions.</p><p><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/video/2014/apr/01/syrian-refugees-khaled-hosseini-kawergosk-camp-video">• Hosseini meets Syrian refugees at </a><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/video/2014/apr/01/syrian-refugees-khaled-hosseini-kawergosk-camp-video">Kawergosk camp</a></p><p><a href="http://khaledhosseini.com/">Khaled Hosseini</a>, best-selling author of <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/04/featuresreviews.guardianreview15">The Kite Runner</a> took part in our live Q&amp;A to answer your questions about the world's refugee crises and the challenges faced by people displaced by conflict, hunger and other humanitarian issues. Catch up on the highlights here.</p><p>Hosseini, who was born in Kabul, the Afghan capital, has some insight into what it feels like to be forced to live beyond the borders of one’s own country. In 1979, three years after his father’s role as a diplomat had taken the family to Paris, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Unable to return home, the Hosseinis successfully applied for asylum in the US, where they grappled with financial uncertainty and a sense of displacement.</p><p>Good afternoon (morning here in California), this is Khaled Hosseini, and I am very glad to join this chat and answer your questions about my recent trip to northern Iraq to visit with Syrian refugees. Many thanks in advance for your questions.</p><p>How can we help refugees build a new life in their countries of refuge, if they so choose? </p><p>With the war in Syria showing no sign of ending, interning people in camps is not a sustainable solution. What did you see that gave hope for greater integration of Syrian refugees within Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq? What will it take for refugee-hosting governments to allow refugees to work, to move freely in search of jobs, to start businesses?</p><p>I agree with you. Obviously emergency help is indispensable but not sufficient. As the conflict in Syria drags on, and as the influx of refugees continue, the focus has to include aid to the neighboring countries. Not only in the form of support in terms of emergency measures, but more long term development in the form of investment in infrastructure, etc.</p><p>What is the most frustrating thing about the whole crisis? In terms of the huge global picture, is there anything that is relatively simple to do yet hasn't happened (and why)?</p><p>Well, there really isn't much about this conflict or this situation that I would classify as simple. One very important matter is access inside Syria to besieged areas so aid can be delivered to those who need it. The UN security council passed in February of this year a resolution that calls for an end to all the fighting and access to those besieged regions for delivery aid. It is vital that the resolution be implemented.</p><p>How is the situation in your city, Kabul? what's your hope for the future?</p><p>There has been a recent rise in attacks in Kabul, as you probably know, much of which can be attributed to the upcoming elections and the Taliban's promise to disrupt them with violence.<br />As for the future, the next few years will be a time of anxiety and uncertainty for many ordinary Afghans. The big question on their minds moving forth is how the NATO and American reduction in forces will affect the security conditions in Afghanistan. I know many people, including Afghans, fear a return to the infighting and civil war days of the 1990’s. That, frankly, is the nightmare scenario, one in which we would once more witness people forcibly displaced in large numbers. It is my hope that important lessons have been learned from those conflicts, and some of the parties involved will exercise more restraint this time around. But you can’t be sure. I suppose these things will play themselves out over the next few years.</p><p>How writers and intellectuals can help people displaced by conflict, hunger and other humanitarian issues?</p><p>I can speak for myself. I think the best thing that I can do, within my own means and limits, is to try and bring focus on refugees around the world. And to try and do it in a manner that helps humanize the situation. I have found that people do not necessarily respond to statistics and figures, but you can make a much stronger connection on a human level.</p><p>It was certainly true for me. After my visit, I feel like my eyes were opened to the full, crushing impact of this war on ordinary Syrians. Over the last three years, I have been following through the news developments about the war and the ever increasing displacement crisis it is causing. But statistics, useful as they are, cannot tell a human story. Only now, after my visit, can I begin to understand -not as a consumer of news, but as a fellow human being- the ghastly legacy of this war. All the lives ruined, the families torn apart, all the dreams that have been crushed, so much youthful potential at risk of being squandered. Meeting with refugees, sipping tea with them, hearing their stories, shaking their hands, the experience transforms numbers and figures into human faces. I was deeply moved by what I saw.</p><p>What do you see in the Syria crisis situation that is different to other situations you may have seen?</p><p>What or who haunts you from the situation when you come back home? </p><p>Let me answer a couple of these if I can.<br />On what haunts me most: The children, and what many of them have witnessed back in Syria. I will try to illustrate with an example. I met a 36-year-old father of four, whom I will call Yasser (not his real name, per his request). I met him at the UNHCR registration center in the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He and his family had been in Iraq for two weeks and were living with Yasser’s brother, who had been living in Erbil where he worked at a hotel. Back in Syria, in Aleppo, Yasser worked for a shoe store. He was not wealthy, but made enough to support his family. His kids attended school and life was generally good. But when war broke out, Yasser’s family saw their fortunes plummet. He lost his job. The children’s school was destroyed. Food prices skyrocketed, forcing the family –who sold all their belongings down to all the furniture- to borrow flour from neighbors and eat bread and water for meals. No electricity, no phones, no water, no safety. Bombs fell all over Aleppo. Still -as a testament to how most refugees desperately want to stay home and how far they have to be pushed before making the decision leave- the family stayed on, hoping things would change. <br />Then a bomb landed on their five-story building, taking out the top floor, killing three children and an old man. Yasser and his family, who lived on the ground floor, were spared, but with a heavy voice, he related to me how his children, even the youngest who was six years old, saw the aftermath, the body parts and corpses of their neighbors, all the blood. It is hard for me to imagine the wounds that such grisly things must carve into a child’s psyche. I am a father of two myself, and I am eternally grateful that my children do not have to witness such ghastly scenes.<br />Yet millions of children in Syria are witnessing atrocities daily. An entire generation of Syrian children is seeing its future shaped by violence, turmoil, grief, and displacement. Nearly 5.5 million kids are now at risk and being affected inside Syria and in the neighboring countries. It is vital that the international community stand in solidarity to protect this generation of Syrian children, bring an end to their suffering, and assure that they do not have a broken future.</p><p>And as for this question:<br />&quot;do they disagree or does the sense of crisis unite to some extent?&quot;</p><p>I would mention four things that I commonly found when speaking to the Syrian refugees in northern Iraq:</p><p>Why not Iran/Russia the biggest supporters of the Syrian government will take some refugees ?</p><p>UNHCR is calling on ALL countries, those within the region and those outside, to open borders and permit Syrians to find safety on their territories.</p><p>On Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/mualima_et" rel="nofollow"><b>@mualima_et</b></a> asks:</p><p>What is something he's seen or heard so far in the camps that is not shown or written about in the media?</p><p>One of the vexing clich&eacute;s about refugees living in camps is that they are a community of dependent people, waiting for handouts, burdens to their hosts. My experience with them, however, has always demonstrated the contrary. Refugees are no different than you or me or anyone else. They are as driven as anyone else by a need for purpose and direction. Most are talented and resourceful and dogged in their pursuit of contribution to society. In the camps that I visited, I saw a great spirit of enterprise; I saw people running grocery stores, restaurants, beauty salons, leadership councils run by refugees themselves, schools. I think stories about camps tend to focus on the need and aid delivery side, but often neglect the resourcefulness, energy, creativity of the refugees residing in the camps.<br />An example is a woman I met named Nalene, a 21-year-old mother of three girls, two of them 18 month old twins. I met her at the beauty salon she has established at the Kawergosk camp, a small tent along the muddy main drag of the camp. She was an outspoken and proud young woman, strong, resilient, and self-confident. She had become the main breadwinner for the family after her husband, who is twenty years older, was injured in a mortar attack back in Syria. She ran a successful beauty salon in Syria and now she has picked up where she left off. One of the remarkable, and endearing, qualities about her was her insistence on strict professionalism in the salon. She took great pride in her presentation and in the quality of her work. Despite some people mocking her - why bother, some laughed, we’re in a refugee camp- she has doggedly refused to compromise her standards. For her it is not merely about making a living, but about preserving a sense of dignity, pride, and self-esteem, desires common to all people, refugee or not.</p><p>On Twitter, ‏<a href="https://twitter.com/TanaWuliji" rel="nofollow"><b>@TanaWuliji</b></a> asks:</p><p>What are the greatest unmet needs of refugees that are getting the least attention and why?</p><p>Education is a central need. Over 3 million children inside Syria are no longer in school. There are over 1.3 million Syrian refugee children registered with UNHCR, and at least half are not in school. Much has been said about a possible lost generation in Syria and that is a potential tragedy.<br />In my experience education for Syrian refugee children in northern Iraq is still a work in progress. At the Kawergosk and Darashakran camps, primary school age kids have access to schooling, but neither of those camps has a functioning secondary school as yet. So kids above 9th grade are at present not receiving education -though that should be coming soon.<br />My understanding is that for the urban refugees, school enrollment among children is even lower than in camps.</p><p>Are all the refugees in Iraq currently living in refugee camps?</p><p>No. A minority do. Speaking about all Syrian refugees in the region, 80% of them live in urban areas. There are seven camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Only 40% of the refugees live in them. 60% of the Syrian refugees live in cities like Erbil, Dohuk, etc.</p><p>I was watching a film about the young write Payman, who else did you meet and what kind of stories did you hear?</p><p>I met a woman named Ronida (not her real name), who does not reside in one of the camp. Sh has lived in Erbil for one year. She was a poet in Syria. She told me the harrowing story of her escape from Damascus, a ghastly story replete with bombings, seeing neighbors corpses lying on the streets. She described to me the perilous journey to Iraq, the fear of getting past checkpoints.<br />In northern Iraq, she has had a difficult time finding work and currently works as a teacher, though she makes very little money and is earning a small stipend, which she said was small enough that she would describe herself as a ‘voluntary teacher.’ Her experience form urban refugees is not unusual. Job opportunities are few and living costs are high. A typical job for a Syrian refugee in Erbil, for instance, would be in the restaurant and hospitality business, where a refugee can expect to earn around $500 a month. Taking into account that rent typically costs $300-$400 per month, you can see that life economically can be difficult for refugees in Erbil. With that in mind, there are UNHCR outreach teams, urban agencies that partner with UNHCR, and cash assistance programs to help support vulnerable urban families.</p><p>thanks for the kind words.<br />No one chooses to be a refugee. And anyone can become a refugee. People become refugees due to forces outside of their own sphere of control. Many try to stick it out as long as possible in their home country before making the difficult decision to cross borders and seek international protection. No one likes to think themselves as a refugee. This is something that many of the refugees I met in northern Iraq told me again and again. They had a very difficult time accepting that they are in fact refugees.</p><p>Thank you everyone for your questions. I am sorry if I could not get to all of them. It has been my pleasure to chat with you. <br />Final thought: Too many people have already died in the Syrian war. Too many have been forcibly displaced -nearly 9 million, or about 40% of the whole Syrian population. At some point this year, Syria is likely to displace my homeland of Afghanistan as the largest refugee producing nation on earth. This is a terrible war in which there are only losers, with the hardest hit being women and children. This war must come to an end. But there seems to be no resolution in sight. That resolution, when it arrives, will not be a military or humanitarian one, but as with all wars, a political one. So I add my voice to many, many others who are calling for an end to this war. The international community must continue to work together, in solidarity, toward a political resolution until all parties have put down their arms and millions of Syrians can safely return home.<br />Thank you.<br />Khaled</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/booksblog/2014/apr/01/khaled-hosseini-live-qa">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentKurdsIraqSyriaMiddle East and North AfricaRefugeesKhaled HosseiniTue, 01 Apr 2014 12:31:51 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/booksblog/2014/apr/01/khaled-hosseini-live-qaPhotograph: UNHCRKhaled Hosseini. Photograph: UNHCRPhotograph: UNHCRKhaled Hosseini. Photograph: UNHCREllie Violet Bramley and Claudine Spera2014-04-01T12:31:51ZMyths about Africa – live debate at #guardiancoffeehttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/17/myths-about-africa-live-debate-at-guardiancoffee
<p>On 27 March, we’re hosting a live debate on common misconceptions about Africa. Sign up to attend or nominate the myth you’d like to see debunked</p><p>Africa is dangerous, don’t go there. Africa is a country – or it may as well be. Africa will always be poor. All African governments are corrupt. Bored already? These are just some of the myths that those familiar with the continent will have had to contend with at one time or another. </p><p>Why do such myths persist – and who is responsible? Is it individuals, the media, or a combination of both? How damaging are these fallacies to development on the continent? If you live in Africa, or are part of the diaspora, how does this affect you? <br /></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/17/myths-about-africa-live-debate-at-guardiancoffee">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentMon, 17 Mar 2014 09:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/17/myths-about-africa-live-debate-at-guardiancoffeePhotograph: Simon Dawson/Getty ImagesLuxury motor yachts in Luanda, Angola. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Getty ImagesPhotograph: Simon Dawson/Getty ImagesLuxury motor yachts in Luanda, Angola. Photograph: Simon Dawson/Getty ImagesMaeve Shearlaw2014-03-17T09:00:01ZFlooding funds: why is aid such an easy target?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/feb/11/uk-floods-why-aid-budget-easy-target
<p>The Daily Mail and Ukip have called for overseas aid to be diverted to help UK flood victims. Why has aid been singled out?<br></p><p>The <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2556282/Put-UK-flood-victim-FIRST-As-flood-hit-Britons-endure-unimaginable-hardship-Mail-launches-petition-calling-cash-taken-11billion-foreign-aid-budget-help-them.html">Daily Mail has launched a petition</a> calling for money to be diverted from the foreign aid budget to help people in the UK affected by recent flooding, caused by more than a month of heavy rain. The petition follows calls from the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, who demanded that the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/09/nigel-farage-uk-aid-budget-somerset-flood-victims">government divert money after a trip to flood-stricken Somerset in south-west England</a>.<br />Why is the aid budget being singled out? On Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewSimms_uk/status/433161858996895744">@AndrewSimms_uk </a>urged the UK government to cut fossil fuels subsidies instead. Others suggest money is diverted from nuclear weapons research. Is the aid budget – which is poised to reach 0.7% of GNI this year – an easy target? <br />Add your thoughts in the comment thread below. As always, if you have any problems posting a comment, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at <a href="mailto:mail to: development@theguardian.com">development@theguardian.com</a> and we’ll add your views to the thread. <br /></p><p>I think it is because often the public don't understand or quickly forget about what the aid budget is being used for.</p><p>Three months ago the British public - and the Daily Mail - were performing heroics in raising money for the victims of the Philippines Typhoon</p><p>Anti foreign aid propaganda, such as the dangerous nonsense spewed out by the Daily Mail, makes me despair. I work for an NGO is Sierra Leone where one in five children die before their 5th birthday, 75% of women are illiterate, over 95% of women undergo FGM and less that 5% of the population have access to clean water or power. UK Aid does so much fantastic work here on water and sanitation, good governance, women's education and empowerment to name but a few - they save countless lives and I am extremely proud that some of my tax goes on helping people who have been dealt a very poor hand in life.</p><p>It seem as short sighted as the budgeting error it aims to mend. </p><p>The lack of long term budgeting for UK flood defences has resulted in a tremendous response which is unfortunately still overwhelmed. Whether that error was made by the Environmental Agency or the Government is by the by, it certainly wasn't made by the recipients of British aid. </p><p>Cutting international spending will mean greater impact on our climate which will result in even greater floods.</p><p>International development includes projects that reduce CO2 globally, such as SolarAid. Cutting the funding for this means more CO2 and more flooding at home.</p><p>Why has it been singled out? Because not enough information is provided about how affordable 0.7% UK aid is against other costs and not enough is done to inform people how we are helping the 1.3Bn people who live in extreme poverty and why its their aspiration and hard work that is allowing these people lift themselves out of poverty as we had to in the UK just a few generations ago. Enlightened self interest and care for people who do not have what all of us in the UK have is not a priority for the politicians or press in this country. But when you tell people they are interested and do care, but they need information they an trust! http://www.gapminder.org/ <br />http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview.html <br />http://www.ted.com/talks/bono_the_good_news_on_poverty_yes_there_s_good_news.html Having had a sister die in the developing world, I know we can ensure everyone has access to clean water, a hospital and a school and it doent need us to fund it, they do not want hand-outs they want a hand-up and help to fix their problems their way not our way. Their future generations of leaders will do a better job than the past ones, just like this country!</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/feb/11/uk-floods-why-aid-budget-easy-target">Continue reading...</a>AidNigel FarageUK Independence party (Ukip)WeatherNatural disasters and extreme weatherDaily MailMediaEnvironmentFloodingPoliticsEnvironment AgencyUK newsTue, 11 Feb 2014 12:35:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2014/feb/11/uk-floods-why-aid-budget-easy-targetPhotograph: CARL COURT/AFP/Getty ImagesUK floods: fire services staff evacuate residents in Wraysbury, Berkshire. Should funds to help flooding victims be taken from the overseas aid budget? Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/GettyPhotograph: CARL COURT/AFP/Getty ImagesUK floods: fire services staff evacuate residents in Wraysbury, Berkshire. Should funds to help flooding victims be taken from the overseas aid budget? Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/GettyMaeve Shearlaw2014-02-11T12:35:50ZOpen thread: international development mythshttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jan/21/open-thread-international-development-myths
<p>What outlandish myths on international development have you come across? Share your stories</p><p>Those who are passionate about international development and developing countries will be familiar with common assumptions: for example, the amount of overseas aid the UK gives comprises 10% of government budget, or the reason people are poor is because they don’t work hard enough, and, of course, Africa is a country.</p><p>Myths that block the progress of poor people is the focus of <a href="http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Who-We-Are/Resources-and-Media/Annual-Letters-List">Bill and Melinda Gates’ annual letter</a> – usually the pair use their missive to promote the foundation’s programmes. Bill Gates says he opted for the new theme after being struck by “how few people think the world is improving, and by how many actually think the opposite – that it’s getting worse”.</p><p>&quot;urbanisation is occurring faster in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world&quot; = fallacy <a href="http://t.co/YBg0GpmnZl">http://t.co/YBg0GpmnZl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23developmentmyths&amp;src=hash">#developmentmyths</a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> That we need to work at very large scale to make impact <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23developmentmyths&amp;src=hash">#developmentmyths</a></p><p>Mobiles and internet access are frivolous extras that people in developing countries neither want nor need. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23developmentmyths&amp;src=hash">#developmentmyths</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GlobalDev&amp;src=hash">#GlobalDev</a></p><p>It doesn't matter if you designed the intervention for rural South India. Sub-Saharan Africa is pretty much the same thing <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23developmentmyths&amp;src=hash">#developmentmyths</a></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jan/21/open-thread-international-development-myths">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentBill and Melinda Gates FoundationPopulationTue, 21 Jan 2014 08:00:14 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jan/21/open-thread-international-development-mythsPhotograph: Mark Boulton/AlamyMyth busters: know any weird development myths? Photograph: Mark Boulton/AlamyPhotograph: Mark Boulton/AlamyMyth busters: know any weird development myths? Photograph: Mark Boulton/AlamyMaeve Shearlaw2014-01-21T08:00:14ZYoung and HIV positive: what is it like to live with the condition?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/26/young-people-hiv-positive-live-condition
Aids-related deaths among 10- to 19-year-olds have risen by 50%. Are governments failing young people? What is it like to live with the condition? Catch up on our live Q&amp;A with five young activists living with HIV<p>On 1 December, thousands of activists will come together to mark the 25th anniversary of World Aids Day. This year’s theme is shared responsibility and focuses on raising awareness and showing support for the estimated <a href="http://www.who.int/gho/hiv/en/">34 million people worldwide who are living with HIV/Aids</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>Young people are among the most at risk of infection. This week, the World Health Organisation warned that governments are failing to provide enough youth-specific services, which has resulted in a 50% increase in Aids-related deaths among 10- to 19-year-olds between 2005 and 2012.</p><p>I have two questions, if you have time:</p><p>1) Are all of you members of local, regional, or global networks of young people living with HIV? If so, what do see as the greatest benefits of joining? If not, why not?</p><p>1) I'm a member of several UK wide bodies and the EU body representing LGBT youth with HIV.</p><p>2) I'm out to everyone, friends, family, public. Most people are very accepting and supportive - but you get the odd person with a bad attitude, this is often based on ignorance and a lack of understanding about the condition.</p><p>Julie, I am a member of the Uganda young people living with HIV (Y+ Uganda) Advisory group, a member of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) and a member of the young people living with HIV (y+) Advisory group of the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+).</p><p>Before I got involved in these movements, I used to think I was alone, I used to think no one cared there was a young person living with HIV, I used to shy asking for HIV/AIDS services in my community! But ever since i got on board, I can ably access treatment, mobilise fellow young people to go for HIV counselling and testing, I can ably share expereinces, I have learnt how other young people are dealing with the condition. This has given me strength to stand up, eat and plan for the future</p><p>What do the activists think can be done to change attitudes about HIV, in terms of better educating people (particularly young people) about safer sex practices, but also in raising the profile of the issue across society once more?</p><p>The main barrier that young people face in terms of HIV is the conservative feelings. This feelings have influenced public policies in several areas, incluiding the education. Sexuality, diversity remais &quot;taboo&quot; nowdays, that why we face a lot of problem to talk openly about HIV.</p><p>I think we definitely need a mass campaign across all genders, sexualities and ages. Current campaigns tend to be targeted at MSM (men who have sex with men) or the african community. But that leaves out a huge section of the population. We have campaigns for everything from diabetes, healthy eating, alcohol, Alzheimer's, cancer etc - it's time for one about HIV and sexual health.</p><p>What would you do if one day your government can no longer afford (or refuse) to provide you with antiretrovirals, i.e. life-saving medicines?</p><p>Ed, lets hope this will never happen and will never be thought about at that level.</p><p>Currently, we are estimated to be around 7 million young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) globally. If our governments can no longer afford our treatment (life), then it would be a death sentence!!!</p><p>Thanks Ed, in Uganda we started what we call saving scheme where groups of people living with HIV are encouraged to save some Little money between 500 Uganda shillings and 1000 Uganda shillings every week and this money is not buying food but instead buy drugs like septrin. Because we have had drug stock outs in some parts of the country so I believe if we use the same method it can work to save as many lives as possible.</p><p>I understand the cost of living in Uganda is really very high and poverty is very high in Uganda</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment">@GdnDevelopment</a> I have a 6yr-old nephew living with HIV. I worry for when he grows older. How did u cope with being an adolescent living + ?</p><p>I think that the most important thing is prepare him to the real life. Children as well as adolescents perceive things and need to be treated with honesty . If you do so, it will be more easier when he has to face problems about HIV.</p><p>Final question from me: what will people be doing to mark world aids day on Sunday? Can you recommend an interesting campaign or action for our readers to get involved in?</p><p>In uganda we shall be working with Namugongo for special children where we will offering free HIV information,counseling and testing to the community people.</p><p>Also we are having a community dialogue with some of local, cultural and religious leaders to provide them information on HIV and also we want them to commit to ending HIV in their respective areas of work.This is happening on Saturday.</p><p>We're are going to officially launch a campaign here in Asuncion (Paraguay) this afternoon, 'lazo rojo', to people get free tested, get correct information, to get condoms (male and female), to directly connect people who live with HIV in our Men's wellness center, and also get the attention of the media to push government to pay more attention in this social problem. For more info : www.somosgay.org</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/26/young-people-hiv-positive-live-condition">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentAids and HIVHealthTue, 26 Nov 2013 00:15:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/26/young-people-hiv-positive-live-conditionPhotograph: Bikas Das/APChildren join HIV and Aids campaigners during a demonstration in Kolkata, India, in the runup to World Aids Day. Photograph: Bikas Das/APPhotograph: China Daily/ReutersWorld Aids Day marked at a medical school in Yangzhou: government estimates show more than 780,000 people in the country are living with HIV. Photograph: China Daily/ReutersMaeve Shearlaw2013-11-26T00:15:06ZPhilippines disaster relief: what do you want to know?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/22/philippines-disaster-relief-typhoon-haiyan-your-views-comments
In the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan, tell us your views about fundraising efforts and what you would like to ask aid workers<p>Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines two weeks ago, is believed to be one of the deadliest in the country's history. The category-five super-typhoon, which whipped up waves as high as five metres (16ft), caused widespread loss of life as well as destruction to homes, business and infrastructure. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/typhoon-haiyan-rebuilding-cost-philippines?CMP=twt_gu" title="">The cost of rebuilding devastated areas could reach &pound;3.6bn</a>, the Philippine economic planning minister, Arsenio Balisacan, has warned.</p><p>Although the story has dropped off the front pages, the aid effort is still in its infancy. So what's it like for those on the frontline? Is help getting through? If not, what is hindering progress? Over the next few weeks, workers involved in the relief effort will share their stories.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/22/philippines-disaster-relief-typhoon-haiyan-your-views-comments">Continue reading...</a>Typhoon HaiyanNatural disasters and extreme weatherWorld newsPhilippinesAsia PacificAidDisasters Emergency CommitteeFri, 22 Nov 2013 13:28:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/22/philippines-disaster-relief-typhoon-haiyan-your-views-commentsNic Bothma/EPATyphoon Haiyan survivors play among debris in the village of Santa Rita, Philippines. How can disaster relief better secure their future? Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPANic Bothma/EPATyphoon Haiyan survivors play among debris in the village of Santa Rita, Philippines. Photograph: Nic Bothma/EPAMaeve Shearlaw2013-11-22T13:28:11ZOpen thread: why are the British so perplexed by population?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/07/open-thread-british-population-world-survey
Survey shows that Brits 'know less about the world than chimpanzees'. Why? Share your thoughts<p>Swedish academic Hans Rosling is presenting <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h8r1j" title="">the last programme in a TV series</a> that uses innovative infographics to explode myths surrounding global population. As part of his research, the statistics showman <a href="ttp://www.gapminder.org/news/highlights-from-ignorance- survey-in-the-uk" title="">tested British knowledge </a>on global population, income, literacy and health.</p><p>The results were cause for concern – in most cases respondents fared far worse than if they had picked their answers at random. Rosling says: &quot;British people know less about the world than chimpanzees. If for each question I wrote each of the possible alternatives on bananas, and asked chimpanzees in the zoo to pick the right answers by picking the right bananas, they'd just pick bananas at random.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/07/open-thread-british-population-world-survey">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentPopulationWorld newsEducationUK newsThu, 07 Nov 2013 06:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/nov/07/open-thread-british-population-world-surveyRexFood for thought: chimpanzees know more about bananas than British people know about the world, says Hans Rosling. Photograph: RexAlamyOrphan chimpanzees Photograph: AlamyMaeve Shearlaw2013-11-07T06:01:00ZHuman trafficking: stories from the frontlinehttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/18/human-trafficking-stories-anti-slavery-day
On anti-slavery day, activists and campaigners nominate those who have made a positive impact on tackling the problem<p>Friday is world <a href="http://www.antislaveryday.com/" title="">anti-slavery day</a>, dedicated to raising awareness of people trapped in <a href="http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_182109/lang--en/index.htm" title="">forced labour</a>, manifestations of which are often <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/series/modern-day-slavery-in-focus" title="">referred to as modern-day slavery</a>. To mark the day, we asked campaigners and activists around the world to nominate examples of campaigns or individuals that have had a positive impact on fighting human trafficking.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/18/human-trafficking-stories-anti-slavery-day">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentSlaveryHuman traffickingLawWorld newsFri, 18 Oct 2013 09:04:25 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/18/human-trafficking-stories-anti-slavery-dayAlec Leggat/Guardian WitnessLisette was rescued from a brothel by community volunteers. Photograph: Alec Leggat/Guardian WitnessKevin BalesFreed bonded labourers painting in India. Photograph: Kevin BalesKevin BalesFreed bonded labourers doing painting, India Photograph: Kevin BalesMaeve Shearlaw and Guardian readers2013-10-18T09:04:25ZDay of the girl: Jessie Ware honours Malala and world's 'formidable' girlshttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/11/day-girl-jessie-ware-malala-yousafzai
UK singer and other attendees pay tribute to Pakistani schoolgirl and discuss forced marriage and inequality. How have you marked the day? Do these events help tackle gender issues?<p>Thousands of campaigners, online activists and girls around the world are marking the second international day of the girl on Friday. The UN has set this year's theme as innovating for girls' education, with official events focusing on how technology and creative thinking can &quot;propel girls' education forward''.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/11/day-girl-jessie-ware-malala-yousafzai">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentJessie WareMalala YousafzaiGenderWorld newsEqualitySocietyForced marriageFemale genital mutilation (FGM)Health & wellbeingHealthWomenFri, 11 Oct 2013 15:05:28 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/11/day-girl-jessie-ware-malala-yousafzaiLewis Whyld/PAJessie Ware, centre, joins influential women from business, politics and the arts during 'speed mentoring' sessions for schoolgirls at the London Eye. Photograph: PALewis Whyld/PASinger-songwriter Jessie Ware (centre) and influential women from business, politics and the arts held 'speed mentoring' sessions for schoolgirls, at the London Eye. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PAMaeve Shearlaw2013-10-11T15:05:28ZA woman's job: who cares about unpaid carers?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/07/woman-job-unpaid-carers
An endless cycle of cooking, cleaning and caregiving at home can adversely affect a woman's health, studies show. How can women be better supported? What role do men play? Tell us what you think<p>Women and girls spend substantially more time than men undertaking unpaid care work – such as preparing food, collecting water and fuel and clearning and caring for children and sick relatives – but their contribution is rarely acknowledged by policymakers.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/07/woman-job-unpaid-carers">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentWomenEqualityGenderCarersSocial careSocietyMon, 07 Oct 2013 16:32:49 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/oct/07/woman-job-unpaid-carersThony Belizaire/AFP/Getty ImagesA Haitian woman hangs clothing to dry in the tent they call home, December 21, 2012 in Canape-Vert, Haiti. Photograph: Thony Belizaire/AFP/Getty ImagesLiz Ford2013-10-07T16:32:49ZQatar’s world cup ‘slaves’: our readers respondhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/sep/26/qatar-world-cup-slaves-readers-respond
Readers respond to our exclusive investigation into modern-day slavery in Qatar, including reaction from the Middle East and Nepal<p><strong>Reaction from the Middle East:</strong></p><p>This has been the conditions in Qatar for the past 30 years. Modern day slavery is rampant across the country. If you visit the Souq's on Bank street on a Friday, one can see these laborers and get a first hand response on how they have been abused for years. The guttwrenching part is, none, not even ground breaking evidence nor reports by the International media is going to change the kafala system, the single cause of modern day slavery!</p><p>I work in the Middle East, and see these types of men every day. They chop down trees with axes in 40c heat. They are sent to fix plumbing with a tool kit consisting of nothing more than a spanner and hammer. They sit or sleep beneath blue tarps during tea breaks, visibly baking in the heat … many expats try to help these poor men by giving them food and water, paying for their bread and juice at the checkout, letting them wash our cars for a few quid, handing them our belongings when we leave, etc. Guilt money? You could say that. But my motivation to come here is the same as theirs. I come from a country that has no work for me.</p><p>It has always appeared to me that expats consider themselves a different species from immigrants … they live in their own communities, send their kids to international schools, shop in their own shops … I am speaking from experience, as someone who has lived in different countries. As a nurse/nursing manager, I have always fallen between the expat and legal immigrant community, a position I am happy with.</p><p>Some Qatar schools have seen recent industrial action by south asian drivers of a local bus firm protesting about non-payment of wages and wage inequality against regional Arabs with the same jobs. Although their fate is not clear. It is believed all were arrested and are about to be deported</p><p>The Government's Qatarisation scheme (to make companies employ up to 10% Qataris) has failed abysmally. So the country will continue to need to employ expats and migrant workers probably for the next 100 years. But what happens when people stop going there because of this modern day equivalent of slavery?</p><p>There are people and organisations fighting against this terrible exploitation. Unfortunately corruption starts in Nepal and Qatar conveniently overlooks how the workers were recruited and how they arrived in country - they are debt bonded by dishonest and corrupt agents before leaving home with debts equaling several times the national average wage borrowed at extortionate rates.Qatar then compounds the misery for gain.</p><p>Although I hated FIFA's decision to award 2022 world cup to Qatar, I felt it would be a good thing for Nepal because of increased demands to expand the infrastructure in the region. Our country has been marred with political instability and corruption, and employment opportunities within the country are rare. A major part of our country's economy is reliant upon remittances received from immigrant workers. As a Nepali citizen, I was aware of the discrimination and harassment immigrant workers faced there but I did not know the severity of this problem … our government agencies and these consulting companies and recruiters are not held accountable …. Government officials in both countries could do so much to avoid this gross violation of labor and human rights. I do not want my country to wait for Qatari administration to take action because it is never going to happen.</p><p>It's a shame. Yes, not that much new story for Nepalese people but someone should have shouted it to the rest of the world, seems this story is a bit of it. Nepal is itself in a transition of political instability so from its weakening status and the problematic scene of diplomatic relation, the migrant workers from Nepal are in danger, and in life threatening stage. But, in the name of development, no nation can exploit any workers from the world, they should be sorry for it.<br />And thanks for the revealing it to the rest :)</p><p>You raise a good point. In many cases working conditions, in terms of health and safety on a building site, are worse in Nepal than Qatar, BUT the workers in Nepal do not generally have huge debts they must repay, they have not been deceived about the work they have signed up for, they are always free to leave and find another job, and they are not living in appalling conditions. But it's complicated of course - the main reason Nepalese look abroad for jobs is because there just aren't enough in Nepal. Some figures suggest there is 40% youth unemployment here.</p><p>Of course the plight of migrant workers in places like Qatar, Dubai etc etc is not new and it is very easy and convenient for us westerners to park it at the back of our minds but I think the media has a duty to remind us every so often that exploitation/slavery or whatever you want to call it, hasn't gone away. So maybe it's not new, but it is still nonetheless an important issue and because of the hullabaloo over Qatar getting the World Cup, it's a story that every footballing nation should have an interest in.</p><p>So only developed countries should host it?</p><p>I'm South African &amp; the World Cup was one of the highlights of my life. It brought people from all walks of life together &amp; was an event that unified all the races here. It was a welcome change to my daily life which in SA unfortunately, is either black or white.</p><p>This is a worldwide problem. The exact same thing happens to migrant workers from Uzbekistan, North Korea, Tadjikistan working in Russia, for example. The problem is all the disparities in the world economic system, not just labour markets - disparities artificially created and continued by the existing order enforced by the World Trade Organisation. Change must come from the top down, not from the bottom up.</p><p>The brokers are the ones that are making money by lying and selling bogus contracts to people who have sold land to try and make a living. The worker thinks he's going to work in a specific trade and is too good to do manual labour the foreman/manager has seen it all before and systematically holds back payment knowing it will have an impact on the workers family and the worker has no choice but to work as a labourer.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/sep/26/qatar-world-cup-slaves-readers-respond">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentWorld CupSlaveryQatarNepalMiddle East and North AfricaThu, 26 Sep 2013 17:31:11 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/sep/26/qatar-world-cup-slaves-readers-respondPhotograph: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty ImagesAsian workers cleaning the stadium at the end of the 2011 Asian Cup semi-final football match between Australia and Uzbekistan in the Qatari capital Doha. AFP PHOTO/YASSER AL-ZAYYATYASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images
VERTICAL Photograph: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty ImagesPhotograph: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty ImagesAsian workers cleaning the stadium at the end of the 2011 Asian Cup semi-final football match between Australia and Uzbekistan in the Qatari capital Doha. AFP PHOTO/YASSER AL-ZAYYATYASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images
VERTICAL Photograph: YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty ImagesMaeve Shearlaw2013-09-26T17:31:11ZTalk point: did the G8 campaigns achieve anything?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/20/talk-point-g8-campaigns
What did you think of the campaigns during the G8? What did they achieve? Did they influence world leaders in Lough Erne?<p>The G8 leaders have concluded two days of meetings in Lough Erne. Britain's prime minister, David Cameron, wanted the summit to focus on the three Ts – trade, tax and transparency. Development campaigners hoped to seize the opportunity to make progress on beating hunger and malnutrition.</p><p>From <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/gallery/2013/jun/18/g8-summit-stunts-rallies-in-pictures" title="">flotillas of boats sailing close to the summit, to a fake tax haven on the banks of the river Thames</a>, campaigners worked hard to attract the G8's attention. What did you think of the campaigns? What did they achieve?</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/20/talk-point-g8-campaigns">Continue reading...</a>G8World newsThu, 20 Jun 2013 11:18:45 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/20/talk-point-g8-campaignsPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesAnti-G8 protesters gather for a demonstration in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesPeter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesAnti-G8 protesters gather for a demonstration in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty ImagesCleo Pearson and Maeve Shearlaw2013-06-20T11:18:45ZLive chat: shouldn't we aim to end extreme wealth, not extreme poverty? | Maeve Shearlawhttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/03/live-chat-extreme-wealth-poverty
Help us examine the UN panel's recommendations for development and post questions for our live chat<p>After months of negotiations, a high-level panel set up by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has released its final report on development after the millennium development goals (MDGs) expire in 2015, setting out an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2013/may/30/un-end-extreme-poverty-2030-goals" title="">ambitious target to end extreme poverty by 2030</a>. The panel promises that &quot;it can actually be done&quot;.</p><p>Entitled A new global partnership, <a href="http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf" title="">the report</a> (pdf) sets out 12 universal goals, on topics ranging from women's empowerment to good governance. When we asked our Twitter followers for their reactions, <a href="https://twitter.com/GdnDevelopment" title="">early responses seemed fairly optimistic</a>. What do you think? Are these targets realistic? Can <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/may/31/global-goals-lasting-change-national-level" title="">global goals lead to progress at the national level</a>?</p><p>On inequality our thought was that rather than addressing mechanically by setting some Gini target, which is both hard to measure and often slightly off point ... it would be better to address the causes and consequences of inequality directly by focusing on groups that have high chance of being excluded from their basic rights to services.</p><p>I wouldn't support a pure Gini target either ... But the more substantive point is the philosophical difference between seeing inequality as a problem only because the marginalised do not achieve some absolute human poverty criteria ... or seeing the damage inequality does to societies more widely</p><p>Support for &quot;honest and responsive government&quot; ranks as one of the highest priorities for people around the world, and especially for poor people ... The argument will have to be made -- over and over again -- but it feels like an argument whose time has come.</p><p>Neither the narrative nor the goals and targets framework go far enough in identifying how women's and girls' experiences of multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination result in deeper experiences of poverty, deprivation and social marginalization. </p><p>The panel claims that &quot;we heard over 5000 civil society organisations working in about 120 countries&quot; and &quot;we also consulted the chief executive officers of 250 companies in 30 countries, with annual revenues exceeding $8 trillion&quot;. The 8 trillion talked louder than 8 billion (people on Earth in 2030). </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/03/live-chat-extreme-wealth-poverty">Continue reading...</a>The future of developmentMillennium development goalsGlobal developmentMon, 03 Jun 2013 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jun/03/live-chat-extreme-wealth-povertyNoah Seelam/AFP/Getty ImagesIndian children eat food on the roadside in Hyderabad, 2011. Will extreme poverty have disappeared in 17 years' time? Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty ImagesNoah Seelam/AFP/Getty ImagesIndian children eat food on the roadside in Hyderabad, 2011. Will extreme poverty have disappeared in 17 years' time? Photograph: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty ImagesMaeve Shearlaw2013-06-03T06:00:00ZTalk point: can Women Deliver improve the lives of women and girls?http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/may/28/women-deliver-improve-lives-girls
Early and forced marriage, gender equality and the rights of girls are on the agenda at this week's conference in Malaysia<p>Thousands of women's rights advocates, policymakers and civil society groups are gathering in Malaysia this week for the third <a href="http://www.cvent.com/events/women-deliver-2013-conference-registration/event-summary-ccfb71484fb4492da451fabcc2679863.aspx" title="">Women Deliver</a> conference. Guests include Melinda Gates; the head of the UN Development Programme, <a href="http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/leadership/administrator.html" title="">Helen Clark</a>; UNFPA's executive director <a href="http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/about/ed/bio" title="">Babatunde Osotimehin</a>, and acting head of UN Women <a href="http://www.unwomen.org/tag/lakshmi-puri/" title="">Lakshmi Puri</a>.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/may/28/women-deliver-improve-lives-girls">Continue reading...</a>Global developmentWomenLife and styleGenderWorld newsSexual healthHealthSocietyTue, 28 May 2013 13:41:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/may/28/women-deliver-improve-lives-girlsAhmad Yusni/EPAA delegate awaits the start of a debate at Women Deliver in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photograph: Ahmad Yusni/EPAAhmad Yusni/EPAA delegate awaits the start of a debate at Women Deliver in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photograph: Ahmad Yusni/EPAMaeve Shearlaw2013-05-28T13:41:06Z